yeltzmanmatt

(2013-06-17 19:26:29)

Tedious if you're male, probably good if you're female

I watched this with my wife and I pretty much hated it and she lovedit. I am not averse to a good romantic film if it's done well i.e TheNotebook however this was pretty poor in my eyes on all levels. In factit was almost as bad as PS I Love you. Rachel McAdams is just a so so actress in my opinion, great in TheNotebook but average in most other films I have seen her in. I was notfamiliar with Channing Tatum and after watching this I don't think i'llbe catching too many of his future movies. Ryan Gosling this guy isn't. The story is slow moving, sentimental and corny. In fact I lostinterest not that far in however my wife who watched this with meseemed far more engrossed in it. That just about sums up this film- ifyou are female and a romantic then you will probably love this. If youare a guy then this is one to endure only. On the basis of fairness, I will give this a six based on the fact mywife loved it but in reality for a guy this is really a 3/10 film.

cultfilmfreaksdotcom

(2013-06-17 14:51:28)

Sap w/out Direction

The worst thing is having to sit through the actual vow, a sappydiatribe of overwhelming Hallmark drivel during a quickie weddingceremony, three entire times: once before Rachel McAdams, playing theperfect girl, loses her memory from a car accident; once after; and thelast time right as she's discovering that perhaps… well that's cuttingto the chase in a story that doesn't have much of a chase at all – eventhough the perfect guy, Channing Tatum, having lost his wife to amnesia– the hackneyed device used in every soap opera invented – has to woeher back into his current, and her former, life.McAdams only remembers the stuff before the relationship, shown duringa ten minute "flashback" of boy meeting girl and never lacking a singlemoment of perpetual bliss i.e. the Greatest Hits of unrealisticromance. Jessica Lange and Sam Neill, as the rich parents who don'tunderstand Tatum's "lowly" lifestyle as a dreaming recording studioowner, nor their daughters choice to sculpt over law school, add aslittle to the storyline – which almost tenses up once she rekindles thespark with her snarky ex fiancé.But this, like everything else, thanks (but no thanks) to a dull scriptand wooden performances, amounts to very little in a flick that evenchicks might forget once the end credits roll.For More Reviews: www.cultfilmfreaks

RayWetCanvas

(2013-06-16 17:09:09)

A Chicago Movie thats Backwards- Just like their Pizza!

The first thing this movie brought to mind that the days of reallyromantic movies that had great acting, screenplays and cinematographyare behind us. Movies such as Tootsie (with Jessica Lange, The GoodbyeGirl, When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle. Here we have RachelMcAdams, fresh from her stellar role in Midnight in Paris starring inthis tedium of a movie. Driving home on a snowy night with her husband,they're hit from behind by a 30 ton Mack Truck (add another ten tonsfor the salt load). Her head cracks through the windshield like aCherryStone at a Clambake. Now for the next three quarters of the movieshe can't remember anything not even her husband. trying to make herremember she's married is like trying to get cat vomit out of a shagcarpet. It's not going to happen. Sam "Juarrassic Park Neill andJessica "I Still Have a Mortgage to Pay" Lange star in thisunremarkable and "forgettable roles as the parents. The onlyexplanation I could come up with is the movie was filmed in Chicago,It's a half arse movie filmed backwards -just like their God forsakenpizza (backwards) with the sauce put on after the cheese! Nuff said-

twta

(2013-06-16 06:58:08)

Very Good

Love it, a beautiful story an great acting, Channing Tatum has become agood actor. Rachael Mcadams is perfect for this movie. One of the bestValentine Day Movie. This movie made people the the movie theater laughand cry. Guys take your women to see this movie. Channing Tatum'scharacter (Leo) is trying too woo back the of his life after a caraccident take took the memory of his new wife Rachel Mcadams (Paige).She lost the last five year of memory, before she met Leo and when shewas engaged too another men, so she now don't know Leo. The movie istold from the perception of Leo, who now have to deal with her estrangefamily and ex boyfriend

rdinning-580-67772

(2013-06-15 07:04:30)

Interrupted Romance

I read a review three days before seeing this and almost didn't becauseof it. That review was not only wrong but the reviewer should apologizebig time.According to the credits the story line is based on a real couple,which I did not know as it didn't seem to be mentioned either in thereview or the several commercials I saw for this movie. I imagine itwas heavily dramatized, but it was done so well that the writer anddirector have nothing to apologize for.Since there are several other plot outlines already I won't add anotherone and risk a spoiler but if you think of the Quality of The Notebookyou will have an idea of what you are in for.

Twodude Review

(2013-06-14 15:12:11)

not bad, just expected more

Michael Sucsy makes his big screen directorial debut with The Vow,starring Rachel Mc Adams and Channing Tatum. The movie centers on awoman who loses her memory as a result of a car accident; and how herhusband tries to recreate their life together in hopes that she willremember it. The decision to see The Vow was an easy one; I'm a big fan of RachelMcAdams and am starting to become of fan of Channing Tatum as well. I'ma sucker for a love story, so it was that reason that I believed Iwould at least like the movie. And like it I did, I just didn't loveit. While the film seemed like something out of a Nicholas Sparks book,it's based on true events, and having known that I found myself drawnto the film's plot. There were a few things about the film that I didn't like. Forstarters, it felt as though the beginning of the film was rushed. Atone point, not soon after the accident, an amnesic and banged up Paigeis in the hospital and in the next scene she's up walking around withbarely any scarring. I thought the movie would show more romance aswell as Leo's efforts to win back Paige's heart and rekindle the lovethey shared. While the movie did focus on their love, it also includeda fair amount of involvement with her parents, played very nicely bySam Neil and the great Jessica Lange. Some could argue that theinclusion of the parents should be expected, since it was theirdaughter involved in the accident, I felt that too much time was spenton their past with Paige. I also would have liked to have seen more ofLeo's attempts at helping Paige regain her memories of their lifetogether and not as much time spent on her family trying to make up forthings they did wrong. Throughout the film there were some veryromantic scenes between Tatum's Leo and McAdams' Paige thatconvincingly showed their unconditional love; unfortunately, there justwasn't enough of them. In the end, I really did enjoy The Vow, and it's one that I will watchagain when it comes out on DVD and Blu-ray. I think it makes for a nicedate night film or something to see on Valentine's Day. My grade: Bvisit our site at www.twodudereview.com

rockitoutwithmusic

(2013-06-14 01:47:58)

Talk about change real life

This movie is actually based on a real life story, and if you know thereal life story, you'd know that they botched the plot. The real lifestory doesn't have a divorce because the real lady realized that eventhough she had amnesia and didn't knew who her husband was, she stillhad a promise to keep, despite not remembering making it. In real life,she was strong enough to stay in a relationship she didn't know, andshe ended up falling in love with him again. I would have liked to seethe real story portrayed because that would have been much moreinteresting and much more REAL! I hate when writers think that they aregood enough to go against real life and change a story.

Boba_Fett1138

(2013-06-13 15:00:13)

Really doesn't handle its concept too well.

It's really a shame. This movie seemed to have a good and originalconcept for a romantic movie but it completely drops the ball.The movie is truly suffering from some poor storytelling. First of all,it really doesn't know how to set its story up properly. Throughout themovie more and more stuff comes to light, which we just have to takefor granted but it would had been so much better if the movie had shownsome of these things earlier on in the movie already. For instance,apparently the Rachel McAdams character had a problem and falling outwith here parents, which we don't learn about until half way throughthe movie, when it suddenly starts to become an important plot point.Why isn't this ever mentioned or shown earlier on already? It arelittle things like this that constantly bugged me and completely tookme out of the movie. The movie keeps coming up with stuff to simply addto its drama, which does not feel natural at all.I also just don't ever feel the love between its two main characters.Perhaps it would had been a better move to build up more slowly towardits changing point, which now occurs far too early on in the moviealready and more time should had been spend on showing the ChanningTatum and Rachel McAdams character being truly in love and happy witheach other. Instead now its main concept, which involves amnesia, more often worksout as something annoying and far from likely, even though this movieis based on a true story apparently. But really, you shouldn't blamethe story but more so its storytelling for this all really.And like I said, the two main characters really don't have enoughchemistry together. Just when I thought Channing Tatum was starting toget better as an actor, I see him doing some truly horrendous stuff inthis movie. This guy simply isn't suitable for romantic movies. Hedoesn't have enough charisma and he is not very good at showing orhandling any emotions. It also really doesn't make him a very likableguy, to watch on screen, for over a 100 minutes. And no matter how hardRachel McAdams tries at times, the love between them just never comesacross as anything true and convincing enough.Also quite odd to suddenly see Sam Neill appear in this. Where has hebeen all those years? He is a welcome addition to the cast, as isJessica Lange but their roles are too small to make a real impact onthis movie.A movie that really doesn't work out well because it doesn't know howto handle its concept.4/10 http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

samsumm1992

(2013-06-13 04:01:40)

I wanted to love this movie really I did!

I saw the trailer and immediately thought chick flick something good tosee with the girls or drag my boyfriend too. And sitting in the theateras the credits are rolling the only thing going through my mind wasthat I felt jipped. It's nothing like how it seems in the trailer. Thetrailer makes it out that she's working with Leo to regain her memoryand eventually fall back in love with him. And it is like the last 20minutes! The rest of the time you just want to punch her because she'sacting like a little brat unwilling to even consider the reasons orfacts about her being with Leo. She basically blows him off and actslike he doesn't even matter. Redbox it is my suggestion.

sribornagain-394-460163

(2013-06-12 18:28:06)

Missed opportunity

What if the love of one's life wakes up one fine day having forgotteneverything about the one she has loved day in day out & behaves totallylike a stranger? How hurtful it would be to the other person who hasloved her more than anything else in this world & has no one except heras his family? This is the crux of what "The Vow " is all about. With amaterial like this one would have liked the makers to have made a moviewhich should have been an emotional roller-coaster. But sadly somethingseem to be missing as a result the movie doesn't stir the emotions ofthe viewers. "The Vow " does have its moments but they are drowned under the largermendaciousness which is an offshoot of derivative writing & not sogreat direction. Movie comes out a collage of events that we have seenin many movie of this genre & theme , especially clichГѓВ©d things like aadulterous & conniving father of the amnesiac , protagonist who is aromantic old world guy married to a rich girl who has moved out offamily to pursue her interest & independence , typical family dinner inwhich the poor struggling protagonist is ridiculed by the rich familymembers of his wife, the girl's ex-fiancГѓВ© who tries to take advantageof the amnesia that she is currently affected from.....and it goes onand on. What makes this movie work in-spite of all those clichГѓВ©s is thewonderful acting by the lead , Channing Tatum & Rachel McAdams .Channing Tatum, who for the first time being presented with scope toshowcase his acting skills , has utilized the opportunity well. As alover happily married to the love of his life suddenly finding out shehas forgotten everything about those romantic as well the married daysafter an accident & trying to get back his love one more time, Channingscores. Be it romance, frustration, expectation , disappointment ,anger, despair ,Channing carries the movie on his shoulder supportedamply by Rachel McAdams. Rachel does her job very well as a person tornbetween her past & the missing link in the present. Michael Brook & Rachel Portman have scored the background music whichcarry forward the narration & tries to instill in the emotions whichthe writing and the direction fails to do. Roger Stoffer's cinematography is good & special mention has to be madeof the accident scene, wonderfully shot.Michael Sucsy has directed the movie written by him along with AbbyKohn & Marc Silverstein which is inspired by the book "The Vow" writtenby Kim Carpenter based on his own life & how he managed to win back hiswife who totally forgotten everything about him.On the whole, "The Vow" could have been one of the best romantic moviesof the year considering the scope it had with the basic premise of themovie, but in the end due to formulaic writing & direction it ends upas a very average movie, one time watch. Bottomline : Missed opportunity

cspuria

(2013-06-11 18:14:30)

Not so wow but okay

After reading the reviews I had low expectations so it was a littlebetter than I thought it would be. At the beginning and the end itindicates that it's based on true events, but it's hard to considerthat it would be anywhere close to real life. The clichГѓВ© of Paige'sover-protective and controlling rich parents was trite if notpredictable. It all seemed a little bit "Cocktail" to me, especiallygiven that the time line seemed circa late 80s (maybe early nineties -it was hard to tell). As for the actors, I liked the casting of Canadians Scott Speedman (ofFelicity in the 90s) and ? as Lily (from Being Erica). Of the maincharacters, Channing Tatum is always nice to look at and Sam Neilrarely disappoints. R. McAdams is better in other films so I wasn'tthrilled with her Meg Ryanesque performance. And Jessica Lange'splastic surgery seemed a little creepy, although she gives a worthyspeech near the end, which was probably the best acting in the wholeshow. I know others don't, but I liked the way it ended.

MC1-Bjornson

(2013-06-11 15:21:59)

An Earnest Vow . . .

"The Vow", Rated "PG-13" for Adult Situations, Adult Language, AdultHumor, Sexual Content, Brief Partial Nudity & Mild Violence. RunningTime: 1hr&44mns.My Take: *** (Out of ****) What if the person you loved more than anyone else in the entire worldone day did not know you anymore? Can you imagine? I cannot begin tofathom the sorrow I would go through. Unfortunately, this is a realityfor people dealing with loved ones suffering from Alzheimer's diseaseor from a traumatic brain injury.As I watched "The Vow", I imagined myself in the character of thehusband's shoes. What startled me was how much of the movie actuallyreminded me of myself and of similar situations I've been in. I'll behonest; this movie definitely struck a chord with me.The movie opens with young Chicagoans Leo (Channing Tatum, "21 JumpStreet") and Paige Collins (Rachael McAdams, "The Time Traveler'sWife") leaving a movie theater late one winter night. They are madly inlove and it's obvious from the get-go they are best friends. While theyare driving home on slick roads, fate intervenes. That's when we learnof "moments of impact and ripple effects where some particles arebrought closer and some are spun off into great adventures" that happenin life.This is when a dump truck rear-ends the young couple's vehicle whichsends Paige sailing through the windshield. During her hospital stay,she is put in a medically induced coma to help her recover. When Paigeis revived her motor functions are good and her personality is sound.Leo is elated to see his wife on the mend, it appears she will not haveany lasting injuries from the accident. Herein lays the ripple effect:Paige has no memory of Leo. She is unable to recall the last five-yearsof her life. This includes changing her college major, her works as anartist and sculptor, her estrangement from her parents, and how and whyshe met and married Leo.From Paige's perspective, Leo is a stranger. There is no passion forhim as there once was. Without the last five years of memory, she stillhas feelings for her former fiancГѓВ©, the handsome and somewhat snakyJeremy (Scott Speedman, "Underworld"). He never wanted his engagementto Paige to end. For him, this might be a chance to pick up where theyleft off.Leo's life is made even more complicated by Paige's meddlesome parentsBill (Sam Neill, "Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole") andRita (Jessica Lange, "Big Fish"). With Paige's memory of theirestrangement gone her parents now have a chance to implement a life"course correction" for her. Bill and Rita never wanted Paige to assumethe career she did, and they certainly do not approve of Leo.Channing Tatum is good as Leo. In spite of the many challenges thatcome from Paige trying to put the pieces of her life back together, healways tries to remain calm and even keeled. This is no small task fora man who, for the most part, lost his true love to "a moment ofimpact". Though hurt, he is determined to play straight with Paige andlet her make her own decisions, including what she now wants to do withher life. Truly, if you love someone enough you will let them go."The Vow" is aptly named. It is the very premise of the Collins'wedding vows the movie is framed upon. What's interesting to note, isour couple wrote their wedding vows on their copies of the menu fromthe cafГѓВ© prominent during their initial courtship: the Mnemonic CafГѓВ©.Nice touch with the name."The Vow" was inspired by the real-life couple Kim and KickittCarpenter. They were married for only ten weeks when an auto accidentrobbed Kickitt of knowing her husband at all. When asked "Who's yourhusband?" Kickitt responded with "I'm not married". Tests revealed shehad only maintained her long-term memories. She no longer had anyfeelings for her husband Kim. "I don't have a visual memory in my head,and I have no memory in my heart." The Carpenters faced over $200,000in medical bills for Kickitt's care. Kim did not think their marriagecould survive. "This isn't my wife; my wife is in this body, trappedand trying to get out." Kim valued their marriage and was determined tomake it work. "I made a vow before God. 'Until death do you part'."It's been nearly 20 years since the accident. Today, they are happilymarried and have two children. Kickitt never did regain the memoriesshe lost."The Vow" took creative liberties with the actual events of which it isbased. A movie like this could have easily gone in so many directions.As it is, it is a bittersweet love story that deals with loss andheartache. How the movie resolves itself feels reasonably honest andnoble.I don't know if I would have had the stamina, will-power or heart thatpoor Leo had. He's a very idealist character with great personalitytraits and few or no flaws. Many couples probably wouldn't have handledthis situation as well as the Collins. But the Carpenters did and thatis a testament to their faith and determination."The Vow" works best as a date movie. If I had to complain, some eventstake place feel a little too convenient. An example is the scene wherePaige meets a former acquaintance in the floral store. That chanceencounter is there to provide a plot twist, but it felt a bit much anda little too late. Oh, well. I can forgive that and some of the otherclichГѓВ©s. After all, this movie has heart. That's what brings this storyhome. For this kind of movie, isn't that what really matters?

jdp831

(2013-06-11 00:31:13)

"Moments of Impact Define Who We Are."

The Vow is a romantic movie about the tragedy of a relationship betweenPaige and Leo after a fateful car accident, which causes Paige to loseher memory of the past five years of her life. The years lost, mainlyincluded the knowledge of her current husband and her life. The lovestruck couple goes from having a giggly young love, to walking on thinice. Leo soon realizes that his marriage with his true love is at stakeand will stop at nothing to help Paige remember and rekindle theirlove. The main actors, Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams did afantastic job of really stepping into the place of their roles. Igenuinely believed that I was watching reality. Throughout this moviethe director has Leo using personal dialogue at important moments andtuning out every sound that is going on around him. This highlights themajor themes and ideas that go along throughout this movie. The carcrash in the beginning was a very crucial moment for this movie. Inorder to capture this moment perfectly, the director filmed theaccident in slow motion to emphasize how serious and life threateningthis crash was. I really liked how the director played out the breakingpoint of Leo and Paige's relationship; I was not expecting it to happenthe way it did. It broke my heart and made me sympathize with theirsituation. It was heartbreaking to see how much pain Leo was in to saygoodbye to his "wife." This movie will keep you on the edge of yourseat. Unlike other movies, the events in this movie are not what youwould expect. There is suspense, romance, and heartbreak involved withthe emotional effect of this movie. This movie will make the audiencetap into their true feelings at one point or another, and at times themovie can even bring up memories of past or previous lovers. The Vow isan excellent movie, which fits right along with other popular moviessuch as; The Notebook, Dear John, The Last Song, and other famousNicholas Sparks movies. All of these movies contain love stories with atragedy involved that are well known and loved. Although I was upsetand disappointed that Paige never regained her memory and didn'tofficially get back together with Leo in the movie, I was glad that theending was not a predictable one. However, the ending did hint thatPaige and Leo were going to "start over" and try again. The Vow is aromantic movie with an unexpected yet fitting ending. This movie is anoverpowering example of true love and the deep connection two peoplefeel for one another, despite obstacles that come in their paths.

eadaoin_ni

(2013-06-10 17:50:44)

Not Good

I really like Rachel Mcadams she is one of my favorite actors but thisfilm really is terrible and not worth paying to see in the cinema.Tantum is a really bad actor and this role does not suit him at all.Tantum and McAdams have no Chemistry at all. Most scenes made mecringe, they were that bad.The screenplay is badly written and i felt nothing for the characters.I didn't care if they got back together or not. I know its based ontrue story but the film is really bad and i wish i could get those 2hours back! Mcadams is great as usual and really tries to save thisfilm but the screenplay and tantum just bring it back down. McAdamscharacter does the same things twice in the film and i know its becauseshe was trying to figure out who she was but it makes for a reallyboring film!!!

DICK STEEL

(2013-06-10 02:40:45)

A Nutshell Review: The Vow

Inspired by real events, the Vow takes a cold hard look at how we arewho we are because we're made up of memories that shape our lives, andif taken away from us, we can almost be someone else, because we'rerobbed of what we had remembered, and from there the experiences drawnthat craft our actions and reactions. Not to mention the opportunity torelive and take a different path in choices presented, although what wecannot have is to rewind the ticking biological clock that continues tosurge forward.If five recent years of our lives were to be wiped out and we cannotremember what had transpired, with scant records lying around and evenso they don't do squat in jogging our memories, how would we cope, andhow would others, especially loved ones or enemies even, cope? Therewill be frustration as normalcy is slowly eased into a life we neverknew, loved ones will be exasperated when we spurn their care andconcern because they're strangers to us now, and enemies may find ittimely to exact revenge, or take the easy path to reconciliation sincewe cannot remember what had transpired.This forms the premise for The Vow, which starts off just as thetrailer presented, with married couple Paige (Rachel McAdams) and Leo(Channing Tatum) getting involved in a car accident, and Paigesuffering the brunt of the impact because she had her seat beltunbuckled (traffic safety warning so subtly sneaked in). In a comatosestate, Paige cannot remember who Leo is after she wakes up, and thusbegins the road forward in trying to jolt her back to remembering whatwould be the best years of their lives in Chicago.A good part of the film transpires in flashbacks to set the moviefirmly in the romance genre, showing how the couple met, theircourtship, their marriage and lifestyle, with him still involved in asunset industry with the setting up of a recording studio, and shepursuing the dream of being an artist much to her parent's disdain inwanting her to become a lawyer. Played by Sam Neill and Jessica Lange,Paige parent's see the chance to reclaim their estranged daughter backinto the household which Leo fights tooth and nail against, and Lep'sstory dwells a lot on this contention on which party should be able toprovide the best care - the one with money, or the one with love.Complication and challenges come from an ex-fiancГѓВ© (Scott Speedman) whosees it apt to try and woo back his one time love without much effortsince in Paige's mind she's still engaged to him, and not married toLeo, and with Paige's automatic drift toward her graduate school daysand her friends then, leaving Leo pretty much in the lurch when hedecides to tag along just to make sure she's safe.With the leads having cut their teeth in Nicholas Sparks filmadaptations to date with The Notebook and Dear John, both RachelMcAdams and Channing Tatum I might add, have what it takes to playlovebird in a romantic film outside of the Sparks series. McAdams nailsit playing almost two characters, one spoilt and very much dependent onothers, and the other fiercely independent who leads her own life theway she wants to. This causes trouble and pain for Leo, which Tatum tomy surprise tackles it quite well, having come from being a dancer toan action star and perhaps now a bona fide romantic lead.Together they share incredible chemistry that makes you root for theircoming back together again somehow, especially with Leo's lofty idealsthat wooing his wife all over again will be a walk in the park and apiece of cake since she had done it before and will perhaps do itagain, but I guess the harsh reality is that it's never that simple toexpand effort and not expect something in return, which in this caseexpectations built by one does prove to be a bummer when the returnsaren't exactly what was planned for, especially with the increasingamounts of cold shoulders, being ignored and witnessing someone carryon their lives as if you don't exist.What I thought was interesting in the narrative is how it played outalmost like a time travel movie, where we're presented the currenttimeline, that got interrupted and we go back to a past where thecouple hasn't met yet, and then from that point tangent off into anentirely new timeline in itself. Moments become a big deal in the filmas the monologue narration makes a huge point about the impact thatmoments can have, and in some ways it's true to life if you reflectupon what makes you, and how you remember events in specific, memorablesnapshots.Released during the Valentine's Day week in the USA and only findingits way to our shores now, The Vow will still pack an emotional punchfor couples out there who will likely flock to this like bees to honey,and Kleenex may be the order of the day as well. It's really verystandard lovey dovey moments and time spent apart that drives everyonein the film, but just how it played out in the end really served toanchor this with a heavy dose of reality without the need to pander tothe general romantic inclinations of how a romantic movie must end. Ilike possibilities, and The Vow firmly delivered on that promise.

Gordon-11

(2013-06-09 05:20:51)

A touching celebration of love

This film is about a man who has to make his wife love him again, afterhis wife sustained a traumatic brain injury."The Vow" is another take on the classic Rachel McAdams romantic film"The Notebook". Rachel McAdams excels at portraying a lost woman,unsure of what is real. Channing Tatum is great eye candy, but hisemotional expression is rather limited. As for the plot, it is engagingthroughout. Everything that happens has a reason, and everything thathappens will somehow touch a heartstring or two. The film evokes muchempathy from viewers, that at times I felt overwhelmed with emotions."The Vow" deserves to be seen. It is not just a romantic film, but acelebration of love.

DarkVulcan29

(2013-06-09 01:17:24)

A nice film for all couples out there.

A very much in love married couple named Leo and Paige(Channing Tatumand Rachel McAdams) are driving home after a date, but soon get into acar accident. Leo escapes with minor injuries, but Paige suffers somedamage to the brain, after weeks of being in a coma, she comes out ofit, but only to discover she has no memory of Leo, or there timetogether. Leo struggles to win her heart all over again. But thenthings get really complicated when Paiges controlling parents(Sam Neilland Jessica Lange) come into the picture, will this all end well.A very well made film, it's funny, romantic,and dramatic at the same.Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams give very believable performances,you really felt there struggle in the film that they go through. SamNeill and Jessica Lange are also good too. This is a great date or agreat couple movie.

sddavis63

(2013-06-08 09:04:19)

Surprisingly Cold And Emotionless

For a story that seems tailor-made to be a tug at your heartstrings,tearjerker kind of movie (and it's inspired by an actual story of awoman who loses her memory of her husband after a car crash and fallsin love with him all over again, so how could this miss?) it issurprisingly weak in the emotion department. The problems begin withthe lack of any discernible chemistry between Rachel MacAdams andChanning Tatum (who play Paige and Leo - the fictional couple who gothrough that nightmare scenario) and it continues with weak acting anda bunch of important characters who are just totally unlikable. Theonly part of the movie that came across to me as raw with emotion waswhen Leo slugged Jeremy in the face. I'd have done the same thing underthe circumstances. But it made me wonder why this movie had to bepopulated with such imbecilic characters.Sam Neill as Paige's father and Jessica Lange as her mother are nothingshort of manipulative as they try to turn their daughter's horribleaccident and memory loss to their own advantage, actively trying to cutLeo out of their daughter's life, and Jeremy (Scott Speedman) is noless manipulative. The downright ugliness of those characters certainlyraises up in the viewer a desire for things to work out for Leo andPaige, but they don't make the movie enjoyable. McAdams struck me aslost through most of this - her portrayal of Paige and her situationjust not coming across as believable, and Tatum didn't especiallyimpress me either.The basic concept has been seen before. Think "50 First Dates"(although this is more serious than that) or "Regarding Henry"(although this is less serious than that.) What this should have goingfor it is the "inspired by true events" angle, but frankly that getsdone so much now that I don't think anyone takes it all that seriously.I'm glad it worked out for the real life couple whose story did inspirethis. I just wish this movie had itself been a bit more inspiring.(2/10)

jsharma

(2013-06-07 19:27:01)

true unconditional love

The Vow directed by Michael Sucsy focuses on the relationship betweenPaige ( Rachel McAdams) and Leo(Channing Tatum), two young, pleasant,good looking girl and boy. The relationship starts with Leo liking thepretty face of Paige. The conversations are simple and natural. Theyget married and then are involved in a car accident. Leo gets away withminor bruises but Paige ends up in a coma and wakes up forgetting thepast four years of her life, which are the years spent with Leo. Leospends all his time and energy in trying hard to get back his love.Thelove of his life has the same physical attributes as before theaccident but has no recollection of him as her love. Channing Tatum asLeo is very convincing in his expressions of love and frustration. Heplays the role of epitome of husband material with conviction. RachelMcAdams as Paige is very convincing as someone who is struggling toremember her past and also someone who appreciates the efforts of thenice looking Leo who wants her to love him like she used to. The Vowhas many touching moments when one can question the importance of timespent together by two people truly in love. Does one hold on to loveshared for four years or does one have to spend more number of yearstogether to hold on to their love like relationship between Paige'smother(Jessica Lange) and father( Sam Neill)? Does love become a habit?Director Michael Sucsy did a good job. Jessica Lange as Paige's motherwas good as always ( was also in Grey gardens directed by MichaelSucsy). Though I did not know that the movie was based on a realincident and the couple Leo and Paige are still a couple and have kids,it is nice to see that real love can work around hurdles and be true tothe Vow.

Joden Bandiling

(2013-06-07 10:32:57)

The Vow is sweet, but rather unsweetened.

You may have spotted few good films that deals with memory-loss notionssuch as 50 First Dates (2004) and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind(2003). These films obtains uncanny situations that tend to mingle withour thoughts whether it's a pre-existing condition or perhaps afictional matters. For instance, the Goldfield Syndrome from 50 FirstDates, which according to what I Googled is a specific form ofAnterograde Amnesia. Hence, this type of plot device begs audiences forquestioning. I swear that I'm expecting something new for The Vowproviding these instances. It's sweet, but rather unsweetened.Even from the beginning, It's like the trailer of the film has alreadyspoiled it to me, except on how the law of Physics demonstrates a rigidbody falls upon collision. Channing Tatum plays as Leo, and RachelMcAdams as Paige. They're both happy for what it looks in the beginningof the film. I even knew the snowy evening would be a disastrousclimate for these characters to suffer; you know with the slipperyroads, it may have gotten worst. Moving on, the two drive on their wayhome from the theater, they stop beside the road… I didn't even blinkon what's going to happen next. I know you haven't watched it, but thetruck rams the back of their car in slo-mo defying gravity. Rather,it's a cheap thrill.Cut to black, and obviously fades in the hospital. Leo realizes thesudden impact, this impact of split-up between them. He survives theaccident, but Paige barely. She's in a coma after that night. Butseveral days later, she regains consciousness. Alas, here it goes, shedoesn't remember anything; not even her husband Leo, and her aspiringinterest on art. The nurse explains further to Leo about her memoryimpairment, but he is more terrified about his memories to Paige priorto the accident. The movie doesn't take this plot too seriously.Instead, it just went down on heaven like a divine intervention. Pity,but we're only being disguised from other movie titles or televisionseries that may have this kind of twists and turns; In other words, orrather one word, Predictability.Leo provides a little backstory, but clearly, he'd have the ample timeto do so. Maybe the idea for the title is that they won't forget thatmoment when Paige have written her wedding vows on a pamphlet. Eitherway, she forgets everything that has happen before the accident. Toresolve this, she must sparingly adjust herself to take those memoriesback. Somehow, Leo provides little evidence; he shows a voice mail,video tape of their wedding and so on. But it ain't enough. Tatum and McAdams are both have been on a Nicholas Sparksnovel-to-movie adaptation before. McAdams was from The Notebook (2003)who acted exquisitely that made me attracted to Sparks' other precedingnovels. On the other hand, Tatum's from Dear John (2009) collaboratedwith Amanda Seyfried that acted with such expectedness, yet. Now, thesetwo actors wound up becoming a tandem on a non-adapted screenplay byJason Katims, Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein, had made another arcaneof an idea. The three writers have suffered to the story, because theyare barricaded on unsophisticated materials from rom-com elements. Thedirector, Michael Sucsy, falls on the same category. Regarding the official poster for The Vow, we see Tatum and McAdams ona kissing distance close-up. As for Nicholas Sparks, his novel TheLucky One will hit the theaters this April; the movie poster is almostthe same as from the other one, though it show Zac Efron and TaylorSchilling on a bright sunny day and held one another. The point is,I'll be expecting more for this heap rather than The Vow. Therefore, Iregret buying my ticket just to see a movie full of foreseeable momentssuch as this.